Puff iron



July 28, 1936. e. w. WARDWELL, JR

PUFF IRON Filed Aug. 23, 1934 lnventow George W \X/QPdweH JP. b His Attomweg.

i atenteci July 28, 1936 PATENT oFricE 2,049,342 PUFF mo'N George ardwelL'Jr Nichols, Conm, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Afifllicaticir'Aug'iist 23, 1934; serial No. 741,091 8 Claims. (01. 68-9) My invention relates to pnff ironsfor-iro'nihg presses of thetypc having two cooperating pressing'members which-arebroiight into pressingengagement to iron work placed between the pressing meinber's. 4

In ironing presses of this type ther e are certain types of irregular work sii ch as mines and the like which are not conveniently ironedby placing between the pressing members. W drk o'f this type is more readily iro ne'd by drawing the work across a heated surface "er-sma'n dimensions which' is called a-puff nee. v

' An object of my invention is to provide aniron- .ing machine having an improved puff iron which 1 is carried within the edgeso'f one of the pressing members when not in'use and which is extended to a position projecting beyond the pressing member when in use. 7

Further objects and advantages of my inven- 2n tion will 'beco'meapparent'as the following description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is -'a plan view of a heated shoe for an ironing pr'ss havinga puff iron embodying my'invention; Fig. 2

is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line -3-'3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated my invention in connection with a "heated shoe I 30 which forms one 'of the pressing members of an ironing press and may be supported in any 'suitable manner. The shoe is preferably made of metal suchas aluminum and is heated by an electric heating element '3 clamped within a groove 33""4 formed in a rib in the upper surface of theshoe by clamps 5, any suitable number of which may.

be used. The shoe is provided with a metal cover I5 which fits against the outeredge of a rib extending around the edge of the shoe and is 40 spaced from the upper surface of the shoe.

In accordance with my invention, I have provide-d a puff iron I which is slidably carried on the upper surface of the shoe beneath the cover 6. The puff iron is made from a bar of metal 45 and has a working surface 8 at the front end which is spaced from the upper surface of the shoe and has a part to the rear of the working surface which is slidable in a groove 9 in contact with the upper surface of the shoe. When the 50 pufi iron is not in use, the iron is carried within the edges of the shoe as illustrated in Fig. 2. The working surface 8 of the puff iron is provided with rounded corners in order to provide a smooth surface across which the work to be 65 ironed may be drawn. The part of the pufi iron I2 and I3 are provided on the upp r surface of the puff iron to the rear of the working surface and-are engaged by the spring when the puff iron is in the retracted and extended positions respectively. These projections increase the pressure tending to hold the puff iron in contact with the 10 heated shoe. When the puff iron is between the extended and the retracted positions, the Sn-mg engages the portion I4 of the iron between the projections I2 and I3 and, since this portion is further from the bracket II, the spring exerts 15 less pressure on the puff iron, and the puff iron may be more readily moved. A slot 2'I is'pmvided in the cover through which the puff iron may be extended.

For sliding the puff iron into and out of the b shoe, I have provided a handle I5 which is pivotallyconn'ected to the puff iron at the rear of the working surface by a pin I! which lies within an elongated'slot [6 formed in the handle. The lower end of the pin lies within a recess in the under side of the pun iron and a spring IIa arranged between a washer Ill), and the puff iron forces the head of the pin against the upper surface of the handle and holds the handle against the upper surface of the iron. The washer I'Ib is held 0* on the pin by a bead formed on the end of the pin. The front end of the handle extends beyond the tip of the iron and is provided with an enlarged portion 22 of insulating material which may be gripped by the operator. When the puff iron is pushed within the shoe, the elongated slot I6 permits the rear end of the handle toslide between projections I8 on the upper surface of the puff iron which maintain the handle in alignment with the iron. When the puff iron is pulled 40 out of the shoe, the rear end of the handle is pulled from between the projections I8 and, when the puff iron reaches the extended position, which is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the handle may be swung away from the working surface by pivoting on the pin IT. A shoulder I9 on the lower surface of the puff iron engages the inner surface of the rib 2!] at the front edge of the shoe and limits the outward movement of the puff iron. Inward movement of the iron is limited by the engagement of the rear end of the iron with the rib 20 at the rear of the shoe. When the puff iron is not in use, it is retained within the edges of the shoe and is maintained in thermal contact with the heated part of the ing surface 8 of the iron is extended beyond the edge of the shoe and the inner part of the iron is maintained in thermal contact with the heated part of the shoe by the spring I!) which then engages the projection 83. By this arrangement, the puff iron is maintained in a heated condition so that it is ready for use whenever the shoe is heated. When the puif iron is not in use, it is kept out. of the way in the space between the cover and the shoe so that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the ironing press.

Although I have shown the puff iron embodying my invention in connection with a' particular type of pressing .member, it may be applie d to other pressing members, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do. v not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Letters Patent of the United States is puff iron carried within the edges of said shoe and. havinga working surface movable to'a position projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in .use and having a part to the rear of said working surface remaining within the edges of said shoe, and means including a spring for maintaining the part of said iron within said shoe in contact with said shoe to heatsaid working surface. 7

2. In an ironing press having a heated shoe, a puff iron carried within theedges of said shoe and having'a working. surface movable to a position projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in use, and a handle pivotally connected to said ironat the rear of saidworking surface and projecting beyond the tip of said iron for sliding said iron into and out ofsaidshoe, said pivotal connection permitting said handleto be swung away from the working surface when the iron is in use.

3. In an ironing press having a heatedshoe, a puff iron; carried within the edges of said shoe and having a working surface movable to a position projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in use and having a part to the rear of said working surface remaining within the, edges of said shoe, aspring engaging said rear part for forcing the rear part of the puff iron into contact'witn the shoe, said part havingia pair of v spaced projections thereon, one of which is engaged by said spring when the iron is in the extended position and the other of which is engaged by said spring i when theiron is in the retracted position whereby the pressure exerted by the spring on the iron is increased when theiron is in the extended and:

the retracted positions.

1; Inv anironing press having a heated shoe, a

4. In an ironing press having a heated shoe, a cover for said shoe spaced from the upper surface of said shoe, a puff iron carried within the edges of said shoe between the upper surface of said shoe and saidcover and having a working surface movable to'a position projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in use and having a partto therear of said working surface remaining within the edges of :said shoe, and means including a spring for maintaining the part of said iron within said shoe in contact with said-shoe to heat said working surface.

5. In an ironing press having a -heated shoe, a

puff iron carried within the edges of said shoe and having a working surface movable to a position projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in use, a handle pivotally connected to saidiron said iron into and out of said shoe, said pivotal connection permitting said handle to be swung WhatI claim as new and desire to secure byv away frorn'said working, surface when the iron is in use, and means for preventing pivoting of said handle when the'iron is being moved within the;

shoe. p

6. In an ironing press having a heated shoe, a puff iron carriedwithin the edges of said shoe and having a working surface movable to a posi-- j tion projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in use and having a part to the, rear of said working surface remaining within the edges of said shoe, means for pressing the'rear partof the iron. against said'shoe, and'means for decreasing thepressure on the iron when the iron is between the extended and the retracted positions.

-7. In an ironing press having a heated shoe,a

puff iron carried within the edges of said shoe and having a working surface movable to a position projecting beyond anredge of said shoe when in use and having a part to the rear of saidwork ing surface remaining within the, edges ofsaid shoe, andsprin'g means engaging the rear part of tracted positions whereby the pressure exerted on the iron is decreased.

8. In an ironing press having a heated shoe, a I

puff iron carried Within the edges of the shoe and having a working surface movablev to a'position projecting beyond an edge of said shoe when in use and having a part to the rear of saidworke ing surface remaining within the edges of the shoe, and means for maintaining the part of said 7 iron within said shoe in contact with said shoei to' heat said working surfabe,

GEORGE w. WARDWELL, JR. 7 

